Casket construction



Feb. 12 1924.

J. H. DONNELLY CASKET CONSTRUCTION Filed July 1. 1921 I N VEN TOR.

% Ea l Janine n. nonnnLnY,

or CLEVELAND, OHIO.

CASKET CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed July 1,

To all to item it my concern:

Be it known that l, JAMES H. DoNNnLLY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State 5 of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Casket Construction, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so asto distinguish it from other inventions.

The present invention relates tocaskets or cofiins, and more particularly to means for sealing the same and is shown as applied to a metal casket, although equally applicable to any type in which the cover is removable and is adapted to be sealed in place so that when closed the casket is air tight. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Fig. l is a broken elevational View of the casket showing the improved locking and sealing mechanism; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig; 3 is a perspective viewof the locking element itself.

In the present invention the body 1 of the casket is shown as being provided with the substantially rectangular metal molding 2 which is soldered or welded to the casket body as at 3 and thus forms a closed chamber which is not open to the interior of the casket. The cover t of the casket is here illustrated as having a glass top 5 which is sealed to the cover in the usual way and the cover where it meets the casket is provided with a substantially closed flange 6 filled with metal 7 or other suitable material. The rectangular metal molding is provided in its upper surface with a groove 8 which is adapted to receive a hollow rubber gasket 9 or the like upon which the flange 6 of the cover will rest. In its outer face this rec tangular molding is provided with a series 1921. Serial N'o. 481,792.

of slots 10 only one of which is here shown, and these slots are adapted to receive the locking members 11 which are used to se cure the cover of the casket in place.

These locking members 11 are merely clips which are provided with a lug 12 adapted to enter the slots in the molding and this lug has a groove 13 adapted to contact with the depressed portion 15 of the molding so as to prevent the lug from sliding out of the slot. The top 16 of the clip fits down over the flange on the cover and has a tapped aperture 17 adapted to receive a cap screw 18 so that the clip may be tightened to force the cover and the flange securely down against the hollow rubber gasket.

Heretofore in the ordinary metal casket construction, the molding and the cover flange were sealed by placing a sheet of rubber therebetween and then bolting the two to ether through the rubber. Where the b0 ts were taken out, and the casket opened several times, it was found that when the casket was finally sealed, the rubber would be so worn fromthe action of the boltsthat the casket was not air tight. With the present construction no bolts go into the interior of the casket and the molding has no opening into the casket so that the seal is made between the flange on the cover and the gasket itself which being formed of a rubber tube or the like, may be made of a single piece for the entire molding. Repeated opening and sealing of the cover does not aiiiect the seal which is finally made, nor are there any parts which may become so worn that air can enter the casket when it is finally sealed. Furthermore, the construction is simple and inexpensive and is easily operated so that the cover may be readily sealed in place with a minimum of work.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by the following claim or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention In casket construction, the combination of a casket provided with a fiange at its top edge, a substantially: rectangular molding having its two side edges bent inwardly to form flanges whereby said molding is attached to said casket flange, said molding being provided with a groove in its top side 5 and with slots in its outer side, a gasket mounted in said groove, a cover for said casket having a flange adapted to rest on said molding and gasket, and clamping members adapted to be received in said slots and engage with said cover flange to seal 10 said casket.

Signed by me this 23rd day of June, 1921.

JAMES H. DONNELLY. 

